Reflect and Redirect "First Date"

This is a role-play activity designed to acclimate students to the practices of reflecting and redirecting during an interview. We will use a "first date" structure to set the scene. Students will divide into pairs and conduct an active listening session with their "date."

• Before we begin, each member of the pair will complete a "dating profile" with basic information like interests, hobbies, or phobias.
• The second member will then begin asking questions, attempting to get the first member telling a story.
• The "date" is over when the second member has reflected or redirected three times.
• The members then switch and the first member begins asking the second member questions.

After we finish, students will need to reflect on how they honed their listening skills. What were they listening for in order to redirect? To reflect? What would have made it easier to reflect or redirect?